Fan module

ABSTRACT

A fan module includes a module housing, a first set of stationary blades, a second set of stationary blades, a motor, and a dynamic blade combination. The module housing has a channel having an inlet. The first and second sets of stationary blades are disposed at the inner wall of the module housing. The motor is disposed in the channel and includes a rotor. The dynamic blade combination includes a hub fixed to a periphery of the rotor, and a first set of dynamic blades and a second set of dynamic blades that surround and are disposed to a periphery of the hub. The first set of dynamic blades is located between the inlet and the first set of stationary blades. The second set of dynamic blades is located between the first and second set of stationary blades.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Number201210353373.8, filed Sep. 20, 2012, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a fan module. More particularly the inventionto relates to a fan module capable of providing a supercharging effectat an outlet.

2. Description of Related Art

With flourishing of the electronics industry, heating value ofelectronic components is increased gradually, and meanwhile a method ofdissipating the waste heat through natural convection in the past hasbecome inapplicable. With the gradual increase of the heating value ofthe electronic components in a computer system, multiple fans are oftenemployed in the computer system at the same time for heat dissipating.These fans are each mounted around various primary heating components todecrease the temperature of the primary heating components.Alternatively, these fans may be placed at an inlet or outlet of thecomputer system to facilitate flowing of airflow in the computer system,so as to reach the purpose of decreasing the temperature of the system.Therefore, the fan has become an indispensable role in existing computersystems.

In the architecture of the fan, a motor provides a motive power thatrequired by a rotor for rotation. The heating value generated by theelectronic components in general computer systems is dissipated throughthe wind amount provided by the fan. One way for increasing the windamount of the fan is increasing a rotate speed of the fan or employing amode of fans connected in series. When the fans are connected in series,in addition to increase of the number of fan blade combination, thenumber of the motors is also increased, so that the whole required spacemay be also relatively increased, and meanwhile the required amount ofmaterial may be also doubly increased. Moreover, under the trend thatcurrent electronic mechanism is made smaller and smaller, the volume offans in series will be subjected to great limitation.

Generally, a serial fan assembly consists of two sets of dynamic bladeswith different rotate speeds and different blade numbers, which aim toenhance the wind pressure at the outlet of the fan. However, under suchdesign, the fan is required to have two rotors to match with differentrotate speeds for reaching an optimum effect. Whereas, if an outputcontrol is performed through a same pulse width modulation, it isdifficult to reach the optimal matching effect.

SUMMARY

In order to solve conventional technical problems, a technical aspect ofthe invention provides a fan module. The fan module has a main designfor enabling a channel of a module housing to have a function similar toturbo charging, so that the fan module has a capability of providing ahigh static pressure. Furthermore, the fan module of the inventionemploys a single dynamic blade combination design to rotate a set of airinflow dynamic blades and a set of supercharging dynamic bladessimultaneously. Besides that the cost of parts such as the motor and abearing can be decreased, a larger space also can be provided in a motorhousing for the motor. In other words, the fan module of the inventioncan employ a motor having a relative high efficiency and torsion underthe same space limitation, and meanwhile the design freedom of a circuitis also high. Moreover, in the fan module of the invention, multiplesets of stationary blades are disposed in the channel of the modulehousing and thus are densely arranged together with the air inflowdynamic blades and the supercharging dynamic blades, so as to realizethe function of decreasing the backflow of air when the fan is failed.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a fan module includes amodule housing, a first set of stationary blades, a second set ofstationary blades, a motor, and a dynamic blade combination. The modulehousing has a channel. Two ends of the channel are respectively an inletand an outlet. The first and second set of stationary blades aredisposed at the inner wall of the module housing and located in thechannel. The motor is disposed in the channel and includes a rotor. Thedynamic blade combination includes a hub, a first set of dynamic blades,and a second set of dynamic blades. The hub is fixed to a periphery ofthe rotor and thus is driven by the motor to rotate. The first andsecond set of dynamic blades surround and are disposed to a periphery ofthe hub. The first set of dynamic blades is located between the inletand the first set of stationary blades. The second set of dynamic bladesis located between the first and second set of stationary blades.

In another embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned channelincludes a converging section, a diverging section, and a superchargedsection. The converging section is connected to the inlet and is taperedoff from the inlet toward the outlet. The first set of dynamic blades islocated at the converging section. The diverging section is connected tothe outlet and is tapered off from the outlet toward the inlet. Thesupercharged section is connected between the converging section and thediverging section. The second set of dynamic blades is located at thesupercharged section.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned first andsecond sets of stationary blades are located at the superchargedsection.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned hub isadjacent to the inlet, and diameters of the part of the hub located atthe converging section are tapered off toward the inlet.

In still yet a further embodiment of the invention, the above-mentionedmotor is adjacent to the outlet, the motor includes a motor housing, anddiameters of the part of the motor housing located at the divergingsection are tapered off toward the outlet.

In an embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned motor housing isconnected with the second set of stationary blades and thus is fixed inthe channel.

In another embodiment of the invention, as described above, the bladenumber of the first set of dynamic blades is smaller than the bladenumber of the second set of dynamic blades, and the blade dimension ofthe first set of dynamic blades is greater than the blade dimension ofthe second set of dynamic blades.

In a further embodiment of the invention, as described above, the firstand second set of dynamic blades aslant surround and are disposed at aperiphery of the hub substantially along a same trend.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, as described above, atrend of the first set of stationary blades disposed in the channel anda trend of the second set of stationary blades disposed in the channelare both different from the trend of the first and second set of dynamicblades surrounding and disposed at the periphery of the hub.

In still yet a further embodiment of the invention, as described above,the first and second set of stationary blades are aslant disposed in thechannel substantially along a same trend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fan module according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the fan module in FIG. 1 fromanother visual angle; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the fan module in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A plurality of embodiments of the invention will be disclosed below withreference to drawings. For purpose of clear illustration, many detailsin practice will be described together with the following description.However, it should be understood that, these details in practice are notintended to limit the invention. That is, in some embodiments of theinvention, these details in practice are unnecessary. Additionally, forpurpose of simplifying drawings, some conventional structures andcomponents in the drawings will be shown in a simple and schematic way.

A technical aspect of the invention provides a fan module. Morespecifically, the fan module has a main design for enabling the channelof a module housing to have a function similar to turbo charging, sothat the fan module has a capability of providing a high staticpressure. Furthermore, the fan module of the invention employs a singledynamic blade combination design to rotate a set of air inflow dynamicblades and a set of supercharging dynamic blades at the same time.Besides that the cost of parts such as the motor and the bearing can bedecreased, a larger space also can be provided in the motor housing forthe motor. Moreover, in the fan module of the invention multiple sets ofstationary blades are disposed in the channel of the module housing andthus are densely arranged together with the air inflow dynamic bladesand the supercharging dynamic blades, so as to realize the function ofdecreasing the backflow of air when the fan is failed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fan module 1 according to anembodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing thefan module 1 in FIG. 1 from another visual angle. FIG. 3 is across-sectional diagram showing the fan module 1 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the fan module 1includes a module housing 10, a first set of stationary blades 12 a, asecond set of stationary blades 12 b, a motor 14, and a dynamic bladecombination 16. The module housing 10 of the fan module 1 has a channel102. Two ends of the channel 102 are respectively an inlet 100 a and anoutlet 100 b. The first and second set of stationary blades 12 a and 12b of the fan module 1 are disposed at the inner wall of the modulehousing 10 and located in the channel 102. The motor 14 of the fanmodule 1 includes a motor housing 140 and a rotor 142. The motor housing140 of the motor 14 is disposed in the channel 102. In an embodiment,the motor housing 140 of the motor 14 is connected with the second setof stationary blades 12 b of the fan module 1 and thus is fixed into thechannel 102 of the module housing 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the dynamic bladecombination 16 of the fan module 1 at least includes a hub 160, a firstset of dynamic blades 162, and a second set of dynamic blades 164. Thehub 160 of the dynamic blade combination 16 is fixedly connected to therotor 142 of the motor 14 and driven by the motor 14 to rotate. Thefirst and second set of dynamic blades 162 and 164 of the dynamic bladecombination 16 surround and are disposed at a periphery of the hub 160.The first set of dynamic blades 162 of the dynamic blade combination 16is located between the inlet 100 a of the module housing 10 and thefirst set of stationary blades 12 a. The second set of dynamic blades164 of the dynamic blade combination 16 is located between the first setof stationary blades 12 a and the second set of stationary blades 12 b.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the channel 102 of the modulehousing 10 includes a converging section 102 a, a diverging section 102b and a supercharged section 102 c. One end at the converging section102 a of the channel 102 is connected to the supercharged section 102 cand is tapered off from the inlet 100 a toward the outlet 100 b of thechannel 102. The first set of dynamic blades 162 of the dynamic bladecombination 16 is located at the converging section 102 a of the channel102. One end at the diverging section 102 b of the channel 102 isconnected to the supercharged section 102 c and is tapered off from theoutlet 100 b toward the inlet 100 a of the channel 102. The superchargedsection 102 c of the channel 102 is connected between the convergingsection 102 a and the diverging section 102 b. Furthermore, the secondset of dynamic blades 164 of the dynamic blade combination 16 is locatedat the supercharged section 102 c of the channel 102.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the blade number of thefirst set of dynamic blades 162 is smaller than the blade number of thesecond set of dynamic blades 164 in the dynamic blade combination 16.The blade dimension of the first set of dynamic blades 162 is greaterthan the blade dimension of the second set of dynamic blades 164. Inother words, the blade of the first set of dynamic blades 162 of thedynamic blade combination 16 is large, and the arrangement distancebetween any two of the blades is sparse; while the blade of the secondset of dynamic blades 164 is small, and the arrangement distance betweenany two of the blades is dense. Therefore, when the rotor 142 of themotor 14 rotates, a large amount of air is sucked into the convergingsection 102 a of the channel 102 from the external as much as possiblethrough the first set of dynamic blades 162 of the dynamic bladecombination 16, and the air sucked into the channel 102 is furthersupercharged at the supercharged section 102 c of the channel 102through the second set of dynamic blades 164, so that the fan module 1has a capability of providing a high static pressure.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the first and second set ofstationary blades 12 a and 12 b in the fan module 1 are also located atthe supercharged section 102 c of the channel 102, but the invention isnot limited in this regard. For the fan module 1 of the invention, thefirst set of dynamic blades 162, the first set of stationary blades 12a, the second set of dynamic blades 164, and the second set ofstationary blades 12 b are densely and sequentially arranged from theinlet 100 a toward the outlet 100 b in the channel 102 of the modulehousing 10, so as to realize the function of decreasing the air reflowedinto the channel 102 from the outlet 100 b when the motor 14 of the fanmodule 1 is failed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the hub 160 of thedynamic blade combination 16 is adjacent to the inlet 100 a of themodule housing 10. Diameters of the part of the hub 160 of the dynamicblade combination 16 located at the converging section 102 a of thechannel 102 are tapered off toward the inlet 100 a. In other words, thedistance between the hub 160 of the dynamic blade combination 16 and theconverging section 102 a of the channel 102 is gradually increased alongthe direction toward the inlet 100 a (i.e., the direction away from theoutlet 100 b). Additionally, in this embodiment, the motor housing 140of the motor 14 is adjacent to the outlet 100 b. Diameters of the partof the motor housing 140 of the motor 14 located at the divergingsection 102 b of the channel 102 are tapered off toward the outlet 100b. In other words, the distance between the motor housing 140 of themotor 14 and the diverging section 102 b of the channel 102 is graduallyincreased along the direction toward the outlet 100 b (i.e., thedirection away from the inlet 100 a of the module housing 10).

Compared to the fan module 1 of the invention, a conventional fanemploys two rotors to respectively rotate two sets of fan blades,wherein since the number of rotors is great, the volume of the motorhousing of the conventional an and the hub is compressed due to thevolume of the two rotors under the same space limitation (that is, inthe case that the conventional fan is also disposed in the channel 102of the module housing 10 of the invention). Therefore, different fromthe fan module 1 of the invention, the conventional fan cannot make thepart of the motor housing 140 adjacent to the outlet 100 b and the partof the hub 160 adjacent to the inlet 100 a be tapered off outward. If itis wanted to make the conventional fan have a structural design asdescribed above, it is necessary to increase the dimensions of themodule housing and motor housing of the conventional fan, which do notcomply with the requirement of the space limitation. Relatively, sincethe fan module 1 of the invention only employs a single rotor 142, amotor 14 having a high efficiency and torsion can be employed under thesame space limitation, and meanwhile the design freedom of a circuit isalso high.

Therefore, for the fan module 1 of the invention it may be designed thatat the converging section 102 a of the channel 102, the diameters of thepart of the hub 160 of the dynamic blade combination 16 located at theconverging section 102 a of the channel 102 are tapered off toward theinlet 100 a of the module housing 10; and it may be designed that at thediverging section 102 b of the channel 102, the diameters of the part ofthe motor housing 140 of the motor 14 located at the diverging section102 b of the channel 102 are tapered off toward the outlet 100 b of themodule housing 10. Therefore, the fan module 1 of the invention canfurther comply with the spirit of turbo charging and an excellentsupercharging effect is achieved.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, in order to draw airoutside the fan module 1 into the channel 102 of the module housing 10through the inlet 100 a of the channel 102 and exhaust the air throughthe outlet 100 b, the first and second set of dynamic blades 162 and 164of the dynamic blade combination 16 aslant surround and are disposed atthe periphery of the hub 160 substantially along the same trend. Anangle may also be included between the blades of the first set ofdynamic blades 162 and the blades of the second set of dynamic blades164 of the dynamic blade combination 16 according to the designrequirements (for example, to promote the supercharging effect).

Additionally, in another embodiment, the trend of the first set ofstationary blades 12 a disposed in the channel 102 and the trend of thesecond set of stationary blades 12 b disposed in the channel 102 in thefan module 1 are both different from the trend of the first and secondset of dynamic blades 162 and 164 surrounding and disposed at theperiphery of the hub 160, so as to realize the function of decreasingthe air reflowed to the channel 102 from the outlet 100 b when the motor14 of the fan module 1 is failed. In a further embodiment, the first andsecond set of stationary blades 12 a and 12 b of the fan module 1 areaslant disposed in the channel 102 substantially along the same trend,but the invention is not limited in this regard. For example, the trendof the first set of stationary blades 12 a of the fan module 1 disposedin the channel 102 can be adjusted according to the angle of the airleaving the first set of dynamic blades 162 of the dynamic bladecombination 16. Relatively, the trend of the second set of stationaryblades 12 b of the fan module 1 disposed in the channel 102 cab beadjusted according to the angle of the air leaving the second set ofdynamic blades 164 of the dynamic blade combination 16.

In this embodiment, the fan module 1 of the invention may employ adesign of outer rotor, so as to have advantages such as simple windingand magnet cost savings, but the invention is not limited in thisregard. In a further embodiment, if the difficulty of winding and thecost are not considered, the fan module 1 of the invention also canemploy a design of inner rotor.

It can be obviously seen from the above detailed description of specificembodiments of the invention that, the fan module of the invention has amain design for enabling the channel of the module housing to have afunction similar to turbo charging, so that the fan module has acapability of providing a high static pressure. Furthermore, the fanmodule of the invention employs a single dynamic blade combinationdesign to rotate a set of air inflow dynamic blades and a set ofsupercharging dynamic blades simultaneously. Besides that the cost ofparts such as the motor and the bearing can be decreased, a large spacealso can be provided in the motor housing for the motor. In other words,the fan module of the invention can employ the motor having a highefficiency and torsion under the same space limitation, and meanwhilethe design freedom of a circuit is also high. Moreover, for the fanmodule of the invention multiple sets of stationary blades are disposedin the channel of the module housing and thus are densely arrangedtogether with the air inflow dynamic blades and the superchargingdynamic blades, so as to realize the function of decreasing the backflowof air when the fan is failed.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to the aboveembodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit the invention.It will be apparent to those of skills in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the inventionshall be defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan module, comprising: a module housing havinga channel, wherein two ends of the channel are respectively an inlet andan outlet; a first and second set of stationary blades disposed at theinner wall of the module housing and located in the channel; a motordisposed in the channel and comprising a rotor; and a dynamic bladecombination, comprising: a hub fixed to a periphery of the rotor anddriven by the motor to rotate; a first set of dynamic blades; and asecond set of dynamic blades; wherein, the first and second set ofdynamic blades surround and are disposed at a periphery of the hub, thefirst set of dynamic blades are located between the inlet and the firstset of stationary blades, and the second set of dynamic blades arelocated between the first set of stationary blades and the second set ofstationary blades.
 2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the channelcomprises: a converging section connected to the inlet and tapered offfrom the inlet toward the outlet, wherein the first set of dynamicblades are located at the converging section; a diverging sectionconnected to the outlet and tapered off from the outlet toward theinlet; and a supercharged section connected between the convergingsection and the diverging section, wherein the second set of dynamicblades are located at the supercharged section.
 3. The fan module ofclaim 2, wherein the first and second set of stationary blades arelocated at the supercharged section.
 4. The fan module of claim 2,wherein the hub is adjacent to the inlet, and diameters of the part ofthe hub located at the converging section are tapered off toward theinlet.
 5. The fan module of claim 2, wherein the motor is adjacent tothe outlet, the motor comprises a motor housing, and diameters of thepart of the motor housing located at the diverging section are taperedoff toward the outlet.
 6. The fan module of claim 5, wherein the motorhousing is connected with the second set of stationary blades and thusis fixed in the channel.
 7. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the bladenumber of the first set of the dynamic blades is smaller than the bladenumber of the second set of dynamic blades, and the blade dimension ofthe first set of dynamic blades is greater than the blade dimension ofthe second set of dynamic blades.
 8. The fan module of claim 1, whereinthe first and second set of dynamic blades aslant surround and aredisposed at a periphery of the hub substantially along a same trend. 9.The fan module of claim 8, wherein a trend of the first set ofstationary blades disposed in the channel and a trend of the second setof stationary blades disposed in the channel are both different from thetrend of the first and second set of dynamic blades surrounding anddisposed at the periphery of the hub.
 10. The fan module of claim 1,wherein the first and second set of stationary blades are aslantdisposed in the channel substantially along a same trend.